[Exclusive] NIS tried to lobby to regain investigative powers after Yoon's martial law

The National Intelligence Service asked the Democratic Party of Korea to restore its authority to investigate crimes of North Korean and foreign espionage, which were transferred to the police early last year, after former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched imposition of martial law. According to a Democratic Party lawmaker, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, a high-level NIS official visited him on Dec. 20, 2024, less than three weeks after Yoon's martial law declaration, and asked for the

April 25, 2025

Prosecution to reopen Kim Keon Hee's stock manipulation case

The Seoul High Prosecutors' Office will reinvestigate former first lady Kim Keon Hee's involvement in a 63.6 billion won ($44.3 million) stock manipulation case, about six months after she was cleared of allegations. In a note to reporters Friday, the prosecution said the case will be reopened in response to a complaint filed by former liberal Rep. Choe Kang-wook in November with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. Kim is the wife of former conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, who w

April 25, 2025

Ex-Democratic Party leader Lee keeps wide lead in presidential election poll

Former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung maintained a strong lead among potential candidates for the June 3 presidential election, surpassing the combined support for conservative contenders, a survey showed Friday. In the poll conducted by Gallup Korea on 1,000 adults from Tuesday to Thursday, Lee garnered 38 percent support, unchanged from the previous week. Han Dong-hoon, former leader of the People Power Party, followed with 8 percent, while former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo secured 7 per

April 25, 2025

Acting president says S. Korea responding firmly to any N. Korean provocation

South Korea is responding firmly to any North Korean provocation, acting President Han Duck-soo said Friday, as he commemorated the soldiers and police officers killed during mandatory service. All able-bodied men are required to serve at least 18 months in the military, police, firefighting service or other institutions to defend the nation from North Korean aggression. Last year, the government designated the fourth Friday of April as a day commemorating those killed during such mandatory serv

April 25, 2025

Han urges swift passage of extra budget proposal

Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo delivered a rare budget speech at the National Assembly on Thursday, urging the opposition-controlled parliament to swiftly pass the government’s 12.2 trillion won ($8.51 billion) extra budget proposal. “For crisis response, the timing of pursuing (policies) is as important as the content of the policies,” Han said in the first budget speech delivered to the Assembly by an acting leader in 46 years. “For the people who lost their homes due to (the

April 24, 2025

Controversial far-right pastor expresses intent to enter presidential race

The Rev. Jeon Kwang-hoon, a far-right pastor, confirmed he will enter the presidential race for the upcoming June 3 election at a press conference on Thursday. “The reason I decided to run in the presidential election is because I see no hope in either the ruling or opposition parties,” Jeon told the press, speaking from the minor Liberty Unification Party's headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul. “I cannot entrust the future of South Korea to them, which is why I am running for president.” Factions of

April 24, 2025

Supreme Court upholds acquittal of prosecutor in political meddling case

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a lower court's acquittal of a senior prosecutor indicted for conspiring in 2020 with a then opposition lawmaker to have complaints filed against then ruling camp figures. The top court handed down the ruling to Son Jun-sung, deputy chief prosecutor of the Daegu High Prosecutors Office, after a court of appeals last year acquitted him of leaking official secrets and violating the personal information protection law in connection with the so-called political m

April 24, 2025

Acting president seeks swift passage of extra budget proposal in speech to parliament

Acting President Han Duck-soo called on the National Assembly on Thursday to swiftly pass the government's extra budget proposal of 12.2 trillion won ($8.55 billion), stressing that time is of the essence to deliver economic relief and support to struggling citizens and industries. In a budget speech before parliament, the first by an acting leader since 1979, Han laid out the challenges facing the nation, from US tariffs and intensifying global competition in the artificial intelligence and sem

April 24, 2025

Lee Jae-myung calls for peaceful coexistence with North Korea

The Democratic Party of Korea's presidential front-runner Rep. Lee Jae-myung said Wednesday that South Korea should reduce hostility with North Korea and pursue peaceful coexistence for the economy to flourish. Lee said that the first steps toward the unification of Koreas, which may seem like a distant future, were robust inter-Korean exchanges. In a televised debate, Lee said peace on the Korean Peninsula is a "matter of survival" that has "direct repercussions on the economy." Under the Yoon

April 23, 2025

Burden of Yoon’s martial law looms over PPP primary race

The lingering risks stemming from former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law decree became a thorny issue among presidential hopefuls running in the People Power Party’s primary for the June 3 presidential election. A moment of tension was observed on Wednesday between former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo and ex-People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon during a second press event held for the four contenders who advanced to the next round of the race. Besides Kim and Han, People Power Party Rep. A

April 23, 2025

Election in money: What it costs and spending limits running for president in South Korea

Before a single vote is cast in South Korea’s 2025 presidential election, the first battle is already underway — and it is being fought with wallets. According to the National Election Commission, candidates for South Korea’s upcoming 21st presidential election will be allowed to spend up to 58.8 billion won ($41.3 million) on their campaigns. The NEC said the cap was calculated by multiplying the national population as of Feb. 28 by 950 won, adjusting for the consumer price index (13.9 percent)

April 23, 2025

Democratic Party's presidential contenders to hold another public debate for primary race

Three presidential contenders of the Democratic Party were set to hold their second public debate Wednesday, four days before the party plans to pick its candidate for the June 3 presidential election. The debate will bring together former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim Dong-yeon and Kim Kyung-soo, a former South Gyeongsang Province governor. During the 90-minute debate, the candidates will present their visions in key areas, including politics, the economy, di

April 23, 2025

PPP primary race down to final 4 contenders

The ruling People Power Party on Tuesday evening announced the four contenders for the party nomination who are advancing to the second round of its primary process ahead of the June 3 presidential election. Former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo, People Power Party Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon and ex-Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo were shortlisted by the party’s election management committee to continue competing in the primary. Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, North Gy

April 22, 2025

PPP shortlists 4 contenders for presidential election

The People Power Party on Tuesday shortlisted four contenders in the first round of its presidential primary, ahead of the June 3 election. The four candidates are former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo, former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon, former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo and lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, according to the party's election commission. The results were determined based on surveys conducted by five polling agencies from Monday to Tuesday, covering a combined total of 4,000 respondents. The PPP

April 22, 2025

Acting president expects 'win-win' from US trade talks

Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Tuesday he expected a "win-win" from the South Korean delegation's "trade consultation" with the United States, as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok flew to Washington Tuesday morning for the meeting. "Based on candid dialogue and cooperation between the economic and trade officials of the two countries, I expect (the bilateral consultation) to open the door to a win-win solution that would be mutually beneficial," Han

April 22, 2025